Journalist Matt Taibbi collects 25 of his Rolling Stone articles from the 2015-2016 United States presidential race to create this emotionally charged overview of the "end of an era... the one that began back on August 28, 1963, with Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech."
Insane Clown President opens with a look at Taibbi's 2009 The Great Derangement, in which he outlined the electorate's growing mistrust of government and media. He saw people moving away from facts toward conspiratorial politics, valuing spectacle over ideology--in essence, fleeing the political establishment. Meanwhile, the factions of the establishment remained isolated and ignorant of their constituents' dissatisfaction. Even though Taibbi didn't foresee Trump, the Rolling Stone articles that follow illustrate just how much his earlier observations prophesied an unprecedented U.S. election.
Taibbi's collection includes astute analysis of the left and the right, as well as the media's role in the political climate. His knowledge and grasp of the U.S. government's inner workings, as well as his understanding of the citizens' explosive discontent, allows Taibbi to dissect the circus-like events. His words are often acerbic, which may rankle some readers--especially if they identify with the target of his criticism--while amusing others. But the insights are powerful and thought provoking, with the potential to kindle vital dialogue. Insane Clown President is not reassuring or comforting, but it is a passionate, intelligent record of this monumental time, one Taibbi believes is "the end of the dream." --Jen Forbus, freelancer